Filing and indexing device



I lllU lu/anion' July 20, 1937. w. N. LowE y FILING AND INDEXING DEVICEFilecl` May 8, 1936 Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES 4PATENT OFFICE.

7 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to ofce equipment and has to do moreparticularly with a device which is especially suitable for the Illingand indexing of information.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the type referred towhich will be simple in construction, rugged, inexpensive to fabricate,and which will make available in compact and readily accessible form alarge amount of data. l() Various other objects and advantages will nodoubt suggest themselves to those skilled in the art as the descriptionproceeds.

Referring now to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention: i3 Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view, partly in elevation, ofa device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan section taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig.l; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a data card or slip which 2G may be used inconnection with my invention.

The numeral IU represents a base which may be in disc form, which may beformed of metal or other suitable material, and having a centralthreaded bore I2 seating a threaded portion I3 of .33 a post I5.Arranged on the post lI5 above the base I Il is a collar I8, which maybe looseor secured by a stud (not shown), if desired.

Rotatably arranged on the post I5 in spaced relation is one or aplurality of drum-like ro- 30 tary members 20a, 2Gb, and 20c forcarrying cards or sheets 25, 25a, adapted to bear data or information.The rotary members may be of the same width or of different Widths,depending upon the uses to which the device is to be put. g; As shown inFig. 1, the device may be intended to carry cards 25, 25a of differentsizes for different types of information, and hence the drum-likemembers will, in such cases, be of different widths. The diameters ofthe rotary members 40 are preferably the same, as shown, although notnecessarily so, and said members are spaced from each other by means ofsleeves 26, which may be locked to the shaft I5 by set screws 2l.

The rotary members each comprise a cylin- 45 drical bearing portion 30and a pair of spaced flanges or disc portions 3|, 3|', said discsterminating in peripheral bosses 32 which may be in the form of a torus,as shown in Fig. l. The discs 3|, 3|' may have a plurality of perfora-50 tions as at 33 in order to reduce weight. The

discs 3|, 3Iare connected by a cylindrical member 35 spaced inwardly ofthe bosses 32 and forming a wall for snugly seating the data bearingmembers, and dening annular portions 36 65 in the discs 3|, 3l'.

'I'he bearing portions 30 of the rotary members have bosses 31 formedthereon each of which are diametrically bored to receive a slidablebraking plug 38 which is retained by means of a coil spring 39 securedby a set screw 4t. By the 5 frictional bearing of these plugs 38 on thepost I5, rotation of the members 20a, 20h and 20c is slowed down.

Any number of rotary members may be arranged on the shaft, according tothe requirements, and as stated above, said rotary members may be of anysuitable length and diameter. The post I5 preferably extends a slightdistance above the uppermost rotary member as at 40 and disposedthereabove the post I5 is reduced, as at 15 4I to seat a knob 42 securedby a screw 43 or the like. The knob 42 gives the device a neat andattractive finish, and at the same time serves conventionally as ahandle whereby the entire device may be lifted.

Various types of infomation bearing elements may be used in connectionwith the device just described. Referring to Fig. 3, which shows oneform of element which has been found convenient, the element comprises arectangular 25 sheet member, such as a paper card of substantialstiffness, having a pair of circular perforaticns 44 arranged in spacedrelation to each other and spaced from a marginal edge of the card, withwhich edge said perforations are connected by means of slots 44'. Itwill be understood, of course, that the perforations 44 and slots 44 areof a size and shape corresponding. to the torus shaped bosses 32 and theannular portions 36 of discs 3|, 3|. Preferably integral 35 with thecard 25 is a thumb index tab or ear 45 on the side opposite theperforations for bearing information which is a key or index to thatcarried by the main body portion of the card 25.

It will be readily understood that the ear 45 is 40 spacedlongitudinally of the card in such a way that the ears of adjacent cardsare simultaneously` visible.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be quite obviousfrom the above description. 45 It will be seen that devices embodying myinvention may be very quickly assembled with a minimum of labor. Theinformation bearing cards 25 are quickly secured to the rotary membersmerely by slipping slots 44 over the bosses 32 50 and frictionallyengaging the perforations 44 with said bosses, and said cards arereadily disengaged merely by exerting a slight pressure on the card in adirection outwardly of the rotary members.

'Ihe rotary members are capable of 55 ,l

holding an extremely large number of cards and,

by having a plurality of rotary members mathesame staff, the informationmay be readily classified into different groups. By extending the lengthof the staff or post I 5 a considerable number of classifications ofinformation may be used, employing a separate rotary member for eachclassification. When information is desired, it may be readily obtainedby simple rotation of the proper rotary member, the friction plugs 38serving slightly to retard the rotation of said members so that theywill not spin about the post While at the same time said rotary membersare free to rotate Without the application of any substantial effort.

An advantage of my invention is that the number and arrangement of drums20a, 20h, and 20c, may readily be modified to suit changes in needs.Without the use of any tools except, possibly, a screw driver, the drumsand spacing sleeves may be removed and replaced with others of differentsize.

v, 'I am aware that drum shaped devices on a horizontal axis, forcarrying data bearing cards, have been heretofore suggested. I havefound that many advantages accrue from arranging such devices on avertical axis. For example, with a vertical axis, the drums rotate veryeasily and may be stopped at any point for inspection with a minimum ofeffort, whereas, with a horizontal axis drum, the cards naturally tendto collect at the bottom and rotation, therefore, has to be againstgravity, requiring additional effort. y Numerous other advantages willbe found incident to my improved construction.

Various modifications and improvements coming within the spirit of myinvention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and henceI do not wish to be limited to the specific form shown or usesmentioned, except to the extent indicated by the appended claims, whichare to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim:

l. In a device of the class described and in combination, a verticalpost constituting a bearing, a member arranged for rotation thereonhaving a peripheral boss thereon, and a sheet for bearing informationcarried by said rotary member and having a perforation comprising aportion of enlarged cross section engaging said boss and a portion ofrestricted cross section through which the enlarged portion communicateswith the edge of the sheet to permit removal of the "sheet r.

2. In a. device orti-the class described and-in combination, abase..member, a vertical post secured thereto, and a rotary membermounted on said post and having a plurality of peripheral spaced bossesadapted to engage and carry a sheet forl bearing information.

3. In a device of the class described and in combination, a base memberhaving a vertical post secured thereto, a plurality of rotary membersmounted on said post, sleeves also mounted on said post for spacing saidrotary members, said rotary members each having a plurality of spacedperipheral bosses, adapted to engage and carry a sheet for bearinginformation.

4. In a device of the class described and in combination, a base memberhaving a vertical post secured thereto, a rotary member mounted on saidpost, said rotary member having a plurality of spaced peripheral torusshaped members adapted to engage and carry a sheet for bearinginformation.

5. In a device of the class described and in combination, a base memberhaving a vertical post secured thereto, a drum rotatably mounted on saidpost, said drum having a cylindrical wall and a plurality of spacedannular members extending outwardly of said wall, and terminating intorus shaped bosses, and a sheet for bearing information havingperforations therein corresponding to said bosses, said perforationsengaging the bosses and the adjacent edge of-said sheet engaging saidwall.

6. In a device of the class described and in combination, a base member,a, vertical bearing post carried thereby, a plurality of rotary membersdetachably mounted on said post, a detachable spacing ring arranged onsaid post between adjacent rotary members, said rotary members eachhaving a plurality of spaced peripheral bosses adapted to engage andcarry a sheet for bearing information.

7. In a device of the class described and in combination, a .basemember, a vertical bearing post carried thereby, a plurality of rotarymembers detachably mounted on said post, a detachable spacing ringarranged on said post between adjacent rotary members, said rotarymembers each having a plurality of spaced peripheral torus shapedmembers adapted to engage and carry a sheet for bearing information.

WILLIAM N. LOWE.

